The cost of college is high.
But there are ways high school students can get a head start on their college degrees while saving money on that hefty price tag: dual enrollment programs.
It is a growing practice in which high school students simultaneously enroll in college classes to receive credit for college and high school. A dual credit boom is going on nationally and in Texas as states look for methods to get more students into and through college debt-free.
How does it work?
High school students typically take these courses, although they can also be taken online, on a college campus, or at another high school in the area. These classes are taught by college faculty members and are provided in collaboration with a college or institution. Dual enrollment allows students to take college-level courses while still in high school, earning both high school and college credits simultaneously.
Recent studies showcase the positive impact of dual enrollment on various facets of education. On average, participation in dual enrollment correlates with higher high school academic performance, increased high school graduation rates, higher college enrollment, improved college success, and elevated college completion rates.
As the need for postsecondary credentials rises, dual enrollment becomes a crucial strategy to address declining postsecondary enrollment. With 70% of jobs projected to require postsecondary education and training, more than a high school diploma is required to secure well-paying jobs.
Texas community colleges have seen significant enrollment recovery since the pandemic. In Fall 2023, 676,141 students enrolled in community colleges nationwide, up 4.25% from 2021 and closing the enrollment gap to levels seen before the epidemic.
Community colleges can maintain the higher enrollment trend with the support of a state funding model passed by the Texas Legislature last year.
With the implementation of House Bill 8 in September, funding for the state’s community colleges is now determined by the percentage of graduates who earn a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year institution.
The measure encourages community colleges to provide a broader range of programs, such as degrees, certificates, and credentials based on industry experience. Additionally, HB 8 pays universities for short-term completion of workforce education and non-credit courses.
Impact on students
Jasmine Adams graduated from a dual enrollment program at Victory Early College High School in 2012 to be an early childhood educator. She would discuss with her father his inability to afford her school fees, and she had to find ways to finance her education independently.
In eighth grade, she was introduced to opportunities for dual enrollment, where she’d earn two years of college credit. She eventually graduated and earned her associates along with her high school diploma.
“The program was three and a half years. I didn’t have much else to do during the summer, and I needed to find a way to fund my education,” she said. “It was rigorous, but being on the Lone Star College campus for three hours daily was cool. I earned 60 college credits.”
Symone Charles was first introduced to a dual enrollment program as a student at the Robert Turner College & Career High School in Pearland. Immediately after completing her associate’s degree through the program, she went to Texas A&M University to study physics but later transitioned to English. She wanted to enter the program to reduce the time it would take her to complete her bachelor’s degree.
“Dual enrollment helped me ease into college a little better than some of my peers because I already knew what to expect,” she said. “Now that I’m in law school, I have less debt than some of my peers who went to college all four years.”
Charles advises high school students to “get a head start” and inquire about these school programs.
“Get those college credit costs out of the way. The best time to do it is when you’re stuck in school for eight hours daily. It isn’t much harder than the work you’re already doing in school,” she said. “Instead of getting Advanced Placement credit, which hinges on your exam score, you can take a dual enrollment class and be sure you’ll get the credit because it’s based on your grade during the semester.”
There are still differences in minority students’ dual enrollment participation rates, even with the clear advantages. In 2019, about one-third of white students took dual credit courses; however, the percentages for Black, Native American, Asian, and Hispanic students were far lower.
These disparities result from several obstacles, including program expenses, eligibility requirements, instructor shortages, and persistent misconceptions. Education institutions and legislators are attempting to increase access and guarantee that all students, regardless of background, can benefit from dual enrollment in light of these difficulties.
Houston area dual enrollment programs
Here is a list of a few dual enrollment programs in Houston to consider:
HISD has partnered with the University of Texas OnRamps program.
